ACT OUT EXTENDED: The Beautiful Dark at Red Twist Extends to Sept 8

The Beautiful Dark extends to Sept 8 The Beautiful Dark A World Premiere by Erik Gernand Directed by Josh Altman is extending 1 week to September 8, 2013 Please update your listings Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm; Sundays at 3pm Must close September 8. Show details below How do you stop a violent mind? What should parents do when it may seem that their son is planning a violent act--and the boy has become nearly incommunicado? PLAY Nancy's son, Jacob, announces he has failed out of college, and upon returning home, sleeps all day. From this deceitful calm, Nancy makes a startling discovery: Jacob didn't flunk out; he was kicked out for writing a graphic play about a killing spree on campus, carried out by a young man who sounds eerily like her son.As the evidence mounts against Jacob, Nancy is forced to confront her darkest fears. Is her son capable of the unthinkable? And can she stop him before it's too late? PLAY HISTORY Erik Gernand began writing The Beautiful Dark the week after the shooting in Arizona that injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. He was inspired by an editorial he read in defense of the parents of the shooter that posed the question: What would you have done if he were your child?  A number of theaters have worked with the script. Two separate development workshops at American Theater Company, Chicago IL Saturday Reading Series at Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, IL 2-week workshop and workshop production at T. Schreiber Studio in NY, directed by new About Face Artistic Director Andrew Volkoff, Chicago, IL 2-week workshop and staged reading at Redtwist Theatre, Chicago, IL Staged reading at The Barrow Group in NY, 2012 The Beautiful Dark has also received the following: AWARD: New Works Project Winner, 2012, T. Schreiber Studio, NY AWARD: Winner of the Premiere Stages Play Festival, Union, NJ Finalist for the Woodward/Newman Drama Award, 2012 PLAYWRIGHT ERIK GERNAND The Beautiful Dark is Erik's first production with Redtwist Theatre, and will open in September at Premiere Stages in Union, NJ. His plays have been in development or production at American Theater Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Barrow Group (NY), and Chicago Dramatists. Erik's short films have screened at more than 100 film festivals around the world including SXSW, Cinequest, and Chicago International Film Festival, as well as been broadcast on IFC, PBS, and The Logo Channel. He is a lecturer in Radio-TV-Film at Northwestern University. Nancy (Jacqueline Grandt), tries to prevent a violent confrontation between her ex-husband, Tom (Tommy Lee Johnston), and her son, Jacob (Aaron Hunt). (Photo: Jan Ellen Graves) CAST Jacob Bond (Charlie), Jacqueline Grandt (Nancy), Tommy Lee Johnston (Tom), Aaron Kirby (Jacob), Scott Olson (Mr. Marsh), Tiffany Williams (Sydney) Jacqueline Grandt is a Redtwist company member and won a 2012 Jeff Award for Principal Actress in Bug by Tracy Letts. Tommy Lee Johnston is a Redtwist company member and resident playwright. His play, Aura, received a 2010 Jeff nomination for New Work. Aaron Hunt is a 2012 Jeff Award-winner for Supporting Actor in Dark Play or Stories for Boys.  STAFF Josh Altman (Director), Reed Motz (Assistant Director), Lauren Yarbrough (Stage Manager), Olivia Baker (Assistant Stage Manager), Jeff Glass (Production Manager), Alan Weusthoff (Tech Director), Kevin McDonald (Dramaturg), Dan Stratton (Set Designer), Christopher Kriz (Sound Designer), Garvin Jellison (Lighting Designer), Kelsey Ettman (Costume Designer), Jeff Shields (Prop Designer), Jan Ellen Graves (Graphic Designer), Chris Rickett (Fight Designer), Kelsey Melvin (Set Assistant), Charles Bonilla (Box Office Manager), E. Malcolm Martinez (Box Office Associate), Johnny Garcia (Associate Producer), Michael Colucci & Jan Ellen Graves (Producers) SCHEDULE Opens: Sat, July 27, 3pm Runs: Thu, Fri, Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 3pm Closes: Sun, Sep 8, 3pm Running Time: Approximately 85 minutes total, no intermission Previews: $15; Wed, Thu, Fri, July 24, 25, 26, at 7:30pm Tickets: Thursdays, $25; Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, $30 (seniors & students $5 off) RESERVATIONS Call: 773-728-7529 Email: reserve@redtwist.org Reservation link: www.redtwist.org Redtwist is located at 1044 W Bryn Mawr, 2 blks W of LSD, 2 blks E of the Red Line EL station Street parking (paybox until 10pm) is available on Bryn Mawr, side streets, and Broadway Please reserve 48 hours in advance. Credit cards accepted by phone and online via BuzzOnStage to guarantee seating.